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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. \ 



Chap. T. 7^ 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



JOHN LAKIN'S DEED, 1653. 



Coniniunicated by the Hon. Samuel A. Green, M.D., of Boston. 



The following deed by indenture, once belonging to John Lakin, 
of Groton, was found several years ago among some old papers in 
that town. In early times deeds were often given in this form, as 
there was then no general system of public registration. Lakin 
was a native of England, who came to this country with his elder 
brother William, his mother, and his grandfather Lakin. The 
family settled first at Reading, where the name was sometimes 
spelled Laukin ; and a few years later they were all living at Gro- 
ton. In the spring of 1655 the two brothers were petitioners for 
the Groton Plantation, and both were original proprietors of the 
town, each owning a twenty-acre right. Their names are given in 
the fac-simile copy of the petition, printed in the Register (xxxvi. 23) 
for January, 1882, where it is stated that the signatures appended 
to the document vary in the style of hand-writing, though they 
do not appear to be autographs, and may have been written by the 
same person. From the resemblance between Lakin's signature to 
this deed and several of the signatures to the petition, I am inclined 
to think that he wrote some of the names on that paper ; and perhaps 
William Martin, who heads the list of signers, wrote others. 



r74- 



Jolin Lakin inanied Mary, daughter of Michael Bacon, as appears 
fiom a communication in the Register (xli. 2G2) for July, 1887; 
and George Polle (or Polly) married Elizabeth, daughter of Edward 
)\'ini), as ap[)ears from Sewall's History of Woburn ([)age 630) ; 
and these facts will account for their witnessing the deed. 

The following is a copy of the instrument, line for line, with a fac- 
simile of the two signatures in exact size : — 

Know all men by this presaiit Writing that I Goig polle do 
ackiioleflg the whol sale with the Consent of my wife of all 
The land and buklding I haue belonging to me liing in the boundes 
of Woborne with all the Rightes and preuilidgs that now doth or 
shall for euer here after be long to the saide land and Buldding 
with all the pertickiliers that here after as expressed Namely the 
Dwelling hous with the Barne and three accors of brokup land 
a Joynning to the dwelling hons with all the nn brokeup land all 
the tensing: be loingin to the house lott and nintene accors of land 
Liing ill the new Bridg feeld six accors liing be twixt a parsall of 
land of sargin tides and a parsall of land of moses cleaueland and 
three accors of brokeup land liing be twixt a parsall of land 
of John Couttlers and parsall of land of henneri Jeftes and 
tenn accares of land liing be twixt a parsall of land of henneri 
Jefts and a parsall of land of Thomas Browne with the fencing 
that doth be long to the said land VN to John Lakin of Redding 
To him his eares and a sines for euer in Considderrations of the 
soumes of fifti pounds thirty pounds for the first pament in Come 
and Catel is to be tow oxen and tow Coues to be paide at mickcilmus 
Next and the Corne to be paid be twixt mickcilmous and may day 
And the Rest at that time twelmant after and for the Corne 
in equall propotion in wheat in Rye in Endin Corne and the said gorg 
polle is to do halfe the worke of digin of a sealler and stonning it 
and the said gorg polle is to do halfe the wrke of digin a well to 
get waiter and to stone it at any Conueniant time when the 
saide iohn lakin shall Require him and the said gorg polle is to 



set up the howse of the barne afore said souffissiiitli now 
preasant ly and the said gorg polle is to haue his Cattel. at 
eaight yeres ould oi" under all but tow oxen) the parties aboue 
written here vn to set to Both there Hands this present day 
the 10 of aprill 1653 u 

Witness in the piesanc of vs " 7/4- 

Michael 1 bacon JJ \J / 

Edward winn V^ 



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[Reprinted from the New-England Historical and Genealogical Register for January, 1891.] 



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